Sequim Gazette, December 10, 2014

Page 1

In stitches

Sequim artist has unique approach to quilting

Stranded at the Spit

Setting the records

Lighthouse keepers get unexpected visitors A-3

B-1

See ‘Verbatim’

A-10

Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2014

SEQUIM GAZETTE www

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com

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Vol. 41, Number 50

City council agrees on community plaza design Project estimated to cost $530,000 by ALANA LINDEROTH Sequim Gazette

Following an open house on Monday, Dec. 8, focused on the design and costs associated with the Sequim Civic Center’s Community Plaza, city councilors voted six to one to proceed with all

three phases of the plaza design. The vote to pursue city officials’ recommended plaza plan has an estimated price tag of $530,000. Also, an additional $50,000 was included in the same decision to fund public art inside the center. “I favor having the grass and planting the trees in the ground because I think it’s more ecologically friendly, financially responsible and aesthetically pleasing,” Genaveve Starr said as the one

Court backs Sequim’s collective bargaining policies

council member to not support all three phases of the plaza design. “I also think cost is a major obstacle.” Despite Starr’s concerns, the remaining council members moved forward with the complete design plan and expect to pay for the plaza using an estimated $175,000 available in the contingency at the end of the project,

Val Jackson, board president of the Sequim Farmers Market, suggested city planners and councilors consider ways to connect people traveling along Washington Street to the Community Plaza’s location along West Spruce Street during Monday’s open house. Sequim Gazette photo by Alana Linderoth

See PLAZA, A-6

Joining

Clallam PUD readies for increase in ultility rates

Club

the

Informational meetings begin this week Sequim Gazette staff

Freedom Foundation, Brautigam have 30 days to appeal decision by MATTHEW NASH Sequim Gazette

Two propositions to change the City of Sequim’s collective bargaining policies were denied again last week in Clallam County Superior Court. Judge Erik Rohrer ruled on Dec. 2 for the city and its labor union Teamsters Local 589 that the Sequim City Council was under a legal right to dismiss the propositions. The “Collective Bargaining Transparency Act,” or Proposition 1, would have opened union collective bargaining labor negotiations to the public and Proposition 2, the “Collective Bargaining Protections Act,” would have prohibited mandatory union entry for employment and prohibit work stoppages in Sequim with 48 union city positions. Sequim resident Susan Brautigam, represented by the Freedom Foundation, a think tank based in Olympia, sued the City of Sequim after city councilors voted on Sept. 8 to not enact the propositions or send them along to voters in the Nov. 4 general election. City Attorney Craig Ritchie advised the city councilors to deny the propositions because he found them unlawful saying that only the state could put initiatives on ballots. Rohrer later denied Brautigam’s suit on Sept. 23 to place the propositions on the Nov. 4 general election ballot. He questioned the timing needed for the ballot saying that Clallam County Auditor Patty Rosand said the deadline to go on the ballots had passed.

See COURT, A-8

Clallam County Fire District 3 chiefs wave to the crowd at Clallam County Fire District 3’s centennial celebration parade in August. They are, from left, Tom Lowe (June 1979-December 2000), Steve Vogel (December 2000-present) and Lawrence Kettel (June 1975-June 1979). Sequim Gazette file photo by Michael Dashiell

Vogel, Sequim fire chief, set to retire in August ’15 Pioneering career spans 34 years; Andrews, Hudson up for position VOGEL

Vogel, 62, announced he intends to retire Aug. 31, 2015, after 34 years of service in Sequim. by MATTHEW NASH paramedics plans to call it a While there are still severSequim Gazette day next year. al months left, Vogel said it’s Clallam County Fire DisSee CHIEF, A-9 One of Sequim’s first paid trict 3’s Fire Chief Steve

A second 3.5 percent electricity bump in two years is proposed in the Clallam Public Utility District’s 2015 budget along with other increases for sewer and wastewater users. Before implementing anything though, Clallam PUD officials host three informational meetings on the electricity increase for customers going into effect on April 1, 2015, and 6 percent water and sewer rate increases in Jan. 1, 2015. The first meeting is held in Sequim from 1-2 p.m. today, Wednesday, Dec. 10, at the Sequim Library, 630 N. Sequim Ave., the second 1-2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 11, at JT’s Sweet Stuffs in Forks, and at 1:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 15, in the PUD’s main office, 2431 E. U.S. Highway 101, Port Angeles. Commissioners anticipate reviewing and adopting the utility district’s

See PUD, A-6

County commissioners OK $33M budget for 2015 Cmsr. Chapman not in favor of plan by ALANA LINDEROTH

$707,528 of reserves to balance the General Fund’s estimated $33.2 million in expenditures With the expectation to utilize and $32.5 million in revenues.

Sequim Gazette

Clallam County commissioners passed the resolution for the county’s 2015 budget Tuesday, Dec. 2 in a two to one vote. Including both the general fund and other funds, the

upcoming budget equates to a projected $80.2 million in revenues and $90.5 million in expenditures.

See COUNTY, A-8

Sports B-5 • Schools B-7 • Arts & Entertainment B-1 • Opinion A-10 • Obituaries A-12 • Classifieds C-1 • Crossword Section C

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